Methodology & sourcing
How Transparency Report builds profiles: public records, primary-source documents, attributed ratings, and linked citations.
Frequently asked questions
What sources does Transparency Report rely on?
We use a tiered hierarchy: Tier 1 primary records (FEC/IRS filings, votes, signed legislation, court documents, official campaign sites), Tier 2 direct statements (verified social, debate transcripts, recorded speeches, press releases), and Tier 3 credible secondary sources (mainstream reporting, C-SPAN, independent research and rating groups).
How are candidate issue positions determined?
We never guess or infer positions. A stance requires a direct public statement, a legislative vote, or official campaign material, and is presented with a summary, evidence string when available, and link to the original source.
Does Transparency Report assign its own ratings?
No. We aggregate ratings and scorecards from external advocacy groups and trade associations exactly as the issuing organization publishes them. Transparency Report does not calculate or assign its own scores or letter grades.
How are corrections handled?
Profiles are updated continuously and display a Last Updated timestamp. Corrections to issue positions or public records require primary documentation submitted to our research team.